NHL Projected Lineups - Game Day March 13, 2026
Date: 12 March 2026
By IceHockeyMan Newsroom
Update: Projected lineups are based on the latest available team information and can still change before puck drop due to late scratches, illness, travel, roster paperwork or final coaching decisions.
Florida Panthers vs Columbus Blue Jackets
Faceoff: 01:00 CET
Panthers - Projected lineup
Forwards
Eetu Luostarinen - Evan Rodrigues - Sam Reinhart
A.J. Greer - Sam Bennett - Matthew Tkachuk
Mackie Samoskevich - Tomas Nosek - Cole Reinhardt
Jesper Boqvist - Luke Kunin - Vinnie Hinostroza
Defense
Gustav Forsling - Aaron Ekblad
Niko Mikkola - Dmitry Kulikov
Donovan Sebrango - Mike Benning
Goalies
Sergei Bobrovsky
Daniil Tarasov
Scratched
Carter Verhaeghe
Anton Lundell
Injured
Uvis Balinskis (lower body)
Brad Marchand (lower body)
Seth Jones (collarbone)
Aleksander Barkov (knee)
Jonah Gadjovich (upper body)
IHM Lineup Note:
Florida is short-handed up front but still dangerous through Bennett and Tkachuk’s pressure game. Forsling and Ekblad remain the key to fast defensive recovery and clean breakout structure.
Blue Jackets - Projected lineup
Forwards
Cole Sillinger - Adam Fantilli - Kirill Marchenko
Kent Johnson - Sean Monahan - Conor Garland
Mason Marchment - Charlie Coyle - Mathieu Olivier
Dmitri Voronkov - Boone Jenner - Isac Lundestrom
Defense
Zach Werenski - Dante Fabbro
Ivan Provorov - Denton Mateychuk
Damon Severson - Jake Christiansen
Goalies
Elvis Merzlikins
Jet Greaves
Scratched
Miles Wood
Egor Zamula
Danton Heinen
Injured
Erik Gudbranson (upper body)
IHM Lineup Note:
Columbus has enough skill to challenge Florida in transition, especially through Fantilli and Werenski. The Blue Jackets need disciplined puck management because Florida will attack any loose support around the walls.
IHM Tactical Signals
Pace Signal
Columbus has the cleaner transition-speed path, but Florida can slow that down with forecheck pressure.
Forecheck Signal
Panthers
Blue Line Signal
Werenski is the most dynamic puck mover in the matchup, but Florida’s pair play is more stable.
Goalie Stability Signal
Panthers
X-Factor Signal
If Reinhart finds clean shooting pockets despite Florida’s injury losses, the Panthers’ finishing quality rises sharply.
IHM Match Pressure Index
Offensive Pressure
Panthers
Transition Edge
Blue Jackets
Defensive Stability
Panthers
Goaltending Edge
Panthers
Game Control Projection
Florida should own more territorial pressure, while Columbus tries to win the game off speed and cleaner rush execution.
Buffalo Sabres vs Washington Capitals
Faceoff: 01:00 CET
Sabres - Projected lineup
Forwards
Zach Benson - Tage Thompson - Noah Ostlund
Jason Zucker - Ryan McLeod - Jack Quinn
Josh Doan - Josh Norris - Alex Tuch
Peyton Krebs - Sam Carrick - Beck Malenstyn
Defense
Mattias Samuelsson - Rasmus Dahlin
Bowen Byram - Owen Power
Logan Stanley - Luke Schenn
Goalies
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Colten Ellis
Scratched
Alex Lyon
Michael Kesselring
Tanner Pearson
Josh Dunne
Zach Metsa
Injured
Tyson Kozak (undisclosed)
Jordan Greenway (middle body)
Conor Timmins (broken leg)
Jiri Kulich (blood clot)
Justin Danforth (lower body)
IHM Lineup Note:
Buffalo’s offensive ceiling remains tied to Dahlin’s puck movement and Thompson’s release. Their blue line is bigger now, but the real test is whether they can keep Washington from turning this into a more controlled half-ice game.
Capitals - Projected lineup
Forwards
Alex Ovechkin - Justin Sourdif - Anthony Beauvillier
Aleksei Protas - Pierre-Luc Dubois - Ryan Leonard
Connor McMichael - Dylan Strome - Tom Wilson
Brandon Duhaime - Hendrix Lapierre - Ethen Frank
Defense
Rasmus Sandin - Matt Roy
Jakub Chychrun - Trevor van Riemsdyk
Martin Fehervary - Timothy Liljegren
Goalies
Charlie Lindgren
Logan Thompson
Scratched
David Kampf
Ivan Miroshnichenko
Declan Chisholm
Dylan McIlrath
Injured
None
IHM Lineup Note:
Washington still leans on Ovechkin’s finishing gravity and Wilson’s interior pressure. Their path here is to win structure, manage the middle and force Buffalo into low-percentage perimeter offense.
IHM Tactical Signals
Pace Signal
Sabres
Forecheck Signal
Capitals
Blue Line Signal
Dahlin is the top driver, but Washington’s pair distribution looks more balanced.
Goalie Stability Signal
Capitals
X-Factor Signal
Tuch’s status matters, because Buffalo loses finishing depth if he is limited.
IHM Match Pressure Index
Offensive Pressure
Sabres
Transition Edge
Sabres
Defensive Stability
Capitals
Goaltending Edge
Capitals
Game Control Projection
Buffalo can create more dynamic offense off movement, but Washington has the cleaner route to controlling the game if they survive the early pace.
Toronto Maple Leafs vs Anaheim Ducks
Faceoff: 01:00 CET
Maple Leafs - Projected lineup
Forwards
Easton Cowan - Auston Matthews - William Nylander
Matthew Knies - John Tavares - Max Domi
Matias Maccelli - Bo Groulx - Nicholas Robertson
Michael Pezzetta - Jacob Quillan - Calle Jarnkrok
Defense
Morgan Rielly - Brandon Carlo
Jake McCabe - Oliver Ekman-Larsson
Simon Benoit - Philippe Myers
Goalies
Joseph Woll
Anthony Stolarz
Scratched
Steven Lorentz
Dakota Joshua
Troy Stecher
Injured
Chris Tanev (groin)
IHM Lineup Note:
Toronto should have the skill edge here, especially through Matthews and Nylander. The Leafs need to avoid getting dragged into a broken-structure game where Anaheim’s physicality and 11-forward, 7-defense look could create awkward matchups.
Ducks - Projected lineup
Forwards
Chris Kreider - Leo Carlsson - Cutter Gauthier
Mikael Granlund - Mason McTavish - Beckett Sennecke
Alex Killorn - Ryan Poehling - Jeffrey Viel
Jansen Harkins - Tim Washe
Defense
Jackson LaCombe - Jacob Trouba
Olen Zellweger - Radko Gudas
Pavel Mintyukov - Drew Helleson
Ian Moore
Goalies
Lukas Dostal
Ville Husso
Scratched
Frank Vatrano
Ross Johnston
Injured
Troy Terry (upper body)
John Carlson (lower body)
IHM Lineup Note:
Anaheim’s shape is unusual with the possibility of 11 forwards and seven defensemen. That can help them protect weaknesses, but it also puts pressure on shift management against a Leafs team that wants pace and cleaner offensive rotations.
IHM Tactical Signals
Pace Signal
Maple Leafs
Forecheck Signal
Ducks can make this heavier than Toronto wants.
Blue Line Signal
Rielly remains the key distributor, but LaCombe and Zellweger can push Anaheim’s transition if given room.
Goalie Stability Signal
Maple Leafs
X-Factor Signal
Knies’ availability matters because Toronto loses net-front detail if he is compromised.
IHM Match Pressure Index
Offensive Pressure
Maple Leafs
Transition Edge
Maple Leafs
Defensive Stability
Maple Leafs
Goaltending Edge
Maple Leafs
Game Control Projection
Toronto should control more of the puck and the cleaner offensive sequences, unless Anaheim turns the game into a disjointed physical battle.
Carolina Hurricanes vs St. Louis Blues
Faceoff: 01:00 CET
Hurricanes - Projected lineup
Forwards
Andrei Svechnikov - Sebastian Aho - Seth Jarvis
Taylor Hall - Logan Stankoven - Jackson Blake
Nikolaj Ehlers - Jordan Staal - Jordan Martinook
William Carrier - Mark Jankowski - Eric Robinson
Defense
Jaccob Slavin - Jalen Chatfield
K’Andre Miller - Sean Walker
Mike Reilly - Alexander Nikishin
Goalies
Brandon Bussi
Frederik Andersen
Scratched
Jesperi Kotkaniemi
Nicolas Deslauriers
Injured
Shayne Gostisbehere (lower body)
Pyotr Kochetkov (lower body)
IHM Lineup Note:
Carolina’s game remains built on pace, retrievals and repeat pressure. If the Hurricanes force St. Louis into rushed exits and win second pucks, they can drown the Blues under sustained zone time.
Blues - Projected lineup
Forwards
Dylan Holloway - Robert Thomas - Jimmy Snuggerud
Otto Stenberg - Pius Suter - Pavel Buchnevich
Jake Neighbours - Dalibor Dvorsky - Jordan Kyrou
Alexey Toropchenko - Jack Finley - Nathan Walker
Defense
Philip Broberg - Logan Mailloux
Theo Lindstein - Colton Parayko
Cam Fowler - Tyler Tucker
Goalies
Jordan Binnington
Joel Hofer
Scratched
Jonathan Drouin
Jonatan Berggren
Oskar Sundqvist
Justin Holl
Matthew Kessel
Injured
None
IHM Lineup Note:
St. Louis has enough skill to punish mistakes, but Carolina is a difficult matchup because the Blues do not want to defend wave after wave of forecheck pressure. Thomas and Kyrou have to be sharp in transition or the game can tilt quickly.
IHM Tactical Signals
Pace Signal
Hurricanes
Forecheck Signal
Hurricanes
Blue Line Signal
Slavin’s pair gives Carolina the cleanest defensive base in the matchup.
Goalie Stability Signal
Slight edge to Blues if Binnington steals momentum, but team structure favors Carolina.
X-Factor Signal
If Thomas exits cleanly through pressure, St. Louis can keep this far more even than expected.
IHM Match Pressure Index
Offensive Pressure
Hurricanes
Transition Edge
Hurricanes
Defensive Stability
Hurricanes
Goaltending Edge
Even
Game Control Projection
Carolina is more likely to dictate the game through territorial pressure, while St. Louis needs efficiency rather than volume.
New Jersey Devils vs Calgary Flames
Faceoff: 01:00 CET
Devils - Projected lineup
Forwards
Timo Meier - Nico Hischier - Dawson Mercer
Jesper Bratt - Jack Hughes - Connor Brown
Arseny Gritsyuk - Cody Glass - Lenni Hameenaho
Paul Cotter - Nick Bjugstad - Maxim Tsyplakov
Defense
Jonas Siegenthaler - Dougie Hamilton
Luke Hughes - Johnathan Kovacevic
Brenden Dillon - Simon Nemec
Goalies
Jacob Markstrom
Jake Allen
Scratched
Colton White
Dennis Cholowski
Evgenii Dadonov
Injured
Stefan Noesen (knee)
Zack MacEwen (ACL)
Brett Pesce (lower body)
IHM Lineup Note:
The Devils still have enough top-end pace to pressure Calgary through the neutral zone, especially with Hughes driving transition. Their biggest concern is defensive detail without Pesce, particularly on second attacks and point-shot recoveries.
Flames - Projected lineup
Forwards
Blake Coleman - Mikael Backlund - Joel Farabee
Yegor Sharangovich - Ryan Strome - Victor Olofsson
Matvei Gridin - Morgan Frost - Matt Coronato
Connor Zary - John Beecher - Adam Klapka
Defense
Kevin Bahl - Olli Maatta
Yan Kuznetsov - Hunter Brzustewicz
Joel Hanley - Brayden Pachal
Goalies
Dustin Wolf
Devin Cooley
Scratched
Ryan Lomberg
Martin Pospisil
Zayne Parekh
Injured
Jake Bean (undisclosed)
Samuel Honzek (upper body)
Jonathan Huberdeau (hip surgery)
Zach Whitecloud (upper body)
IHM Lineup Note:
Calgary will want a more controlled, heavy game with Backlund’s line setting the tone. If the Flames can disrupt New Jersey’s first pass and keep the Devils from attacking with speed, they can drag this into a more manageable structure battle.
IHM Tactical Signals
Pace Signal
Devils
Forecheck Signal
Flames
Blue Line Signal
Hamilton and Luke Hughes provide the strongest offensive blue-line influence.
Goalie Stability Signal
Even, with Wolf capable of stealing stretches and Markstrom offering structure knowledge.
X-Factor Signal
If Hischier’s line wins possession against Backlund’s matchup group, New Jersey’s pace becomes hard to contain.
IHM Match Pressure Index
Offensive Pressure
Devils
Transition Edge
Devils
Defensive Stability
Flames
Goaltending Edge
Even
Game Control Projection
This shapes as speed against structure. If Calgary slows it early, they can keep the game close. If not, New Jersey’s transition game should take over.
Tampa Bay Lightning vs Detroit Red Wings
Faceoff: 01:00 CET
Lightning - Projected lineup
Forwards
Brandon Hagel - Anthony Cirelli - Nikita Kucherov
Jake Guentzel - Brayden Point - Gage Goncalves
Zemgus Girgensons - Yanni Gourde - Pontus Holmberg
Corey Perry - Connor Geekie - Oliver Bjorkstrand
Defense
J.J. Moser - Darren Raddysh
Ryan McDonagh - Charle-Edouard D’Astous
Victor Hedman - Declan Carlile
Goalies
Andrei Vasilevskiy
Jonas Johansson
Scratched
Scott Sabourin
Steven Santini
Injured
Erik Cernak (undisclosed)
Dominic James (lower body)
Nick Paul (lower body)
Max Crozier (core muscle)
Emil Lilleberg (facial fracture)
IHM Lineup Note:
Tampa’s top-six remains dangerous enough to punish almost any defensive mistake. Kucherov and Point can dictate game-breaking sequences if Detroit cannot keep its coverage layers compact through the middle.
Red Wings - Projected lineup
Forwards
Alex DeBrincat - J.T. Compher - Patrick Kane
Emmitt Finnie - Marco Kasper - Lucas Raymond
Mason Appleton - Michael Rasmussen - Michael Brandsegg-Nygard
James van Riemsdyk - Sheldon Dries - Dominik Shine
Defense
Simon Edvinsson - Moritz Seider
Ben Chiarot - Justin Faulk
Albert Johansson - Jacob Bernard-Docker
Goalies
John Gibson
Cam Talbot
Scratched
Travis Hamonic
John Leonard
Axel Sandin-Pellikka
Edward Tralmaks
Austin Watson
Injured
David Perron (lower body)
Dylan Larkin (lower body)
Andrew Copp (lower body)
IHM Lineup Note:
Detroit is down major center depth, which makes puck support and defensive responsibility far more difficult against a team like Tampa. Raymond and Kane need to create offense efficiently, because the Red Wings are unlikely to win this game through volume.
IHM Tactical Signals
Pace Signal
Lightning
Forecheck Signal
Lightning
Blue Line Signal
Hedman’s control remains the defining blue-line factor.
Goalie Stability Signal
Lightning
X-Factor Signal
If Gibson stands tall early, Detroit can make this more stubborn than the paper matchup suggests.
IHM Match Pressure Index
Offensive Pressure
Lightning
Transition Edge
Lightning
Defensive Stability
Lightning
Goaltending Edge
Lightning
Game Control Projection
Tampa has the cleaner route to controlling pace, puck possession and high-danger looks. Detroit’s best chance is structured survival and opportunistic finishing.
Boston Bruins vs San Jose Sharks
Faceoff: 01:00 CET
Bruins - Projected lineup
Forwards
Marat Khusnutdinov - Elias Lindholm - David Pastrnak
Casey Mittelstadt - Pavel Zacha - Viktor Arvidsson
Alex Steeves - Fraser Minten - Morgan Geekie
Tanner Jeannot - Sean Kuraly - Mark Kastelic
Defense
Jonathan Aspirot - Charlie McAvoy
Nikita Zadorov - Andrew Peeke
Hampus Lindholm - Mason Lohrei
Goalies
Jeremy Swayman
Joonas Korpisalo
Scratched
Michael Eyssimont
Henri Jokiharju
Jordan Harris
Injured
None
IHM Lineup Note:
Boston should be comfortable controlling this game through structure, especially if McAvoy owns the first-touch distribution and Pastrnak gets offensive-zone volume. Their challenge is avoiding giving San Jose easy transition opportunities off careless blue-line decisions.
Sharks - Projected lineup
Forwards
Will Smith - Macklin Celebrini - Collin Graf
Adam Gaudette - Alexander Wennberg - Kiefer Sherwood
William Eklund - Michael Misa - Tyler Toffoli
Barclay Goodrow - Zack Ostapchuk - Ryan Reaves
Defense
Dmitry Orlov - John Klingberg
Mario Ferraro - Shakir Mukhamadullin
Sam Dickinson - Vincent Desharnais
Goalies
Alex Nedeljkovic
Yaroslav Askarov
Scratched
Pavol Regenda
Nick Leddy
Philipp Kurashev
Igor Chernsyhov
Injured
Ty Dellandrea (lower body)
IHM Lineup Note:
San Jose still has enough young talent to create dangerous flashes, especially through Celebrini and Eklund. But the Sharks need far cleaner exits and more consistent support, or Boston’s structure will pin them into long defensive shifts.
Minnesota Wild vs Philadelphia Flyers
Faceoff: 02:00 CET
Wild - Projected lineup
Forwards
Kirill Kaprizov - Ryan Hartman - Mats Zuccarello
Marcus Johansson - Joel Eriksson Ek - Matt Boldy
Yakov Trenin - Danila Yurov - Vladimir Tarasenko
Nick Foligno - Michael McCarron - Robby Fabbri
Defense
Quinn Hughes - Brock Faber
Jonas Brodin - Jared Spurgeon
Jake Middleton - Zach Bogosian
Goalies
Jesper Wallstedt
Filip Gustavsson
Scratched
Daemon Hunt
Jeff Petry
Nico Sturm
Injured
Marcus Foligno (lower body)
Bobby Brink (upper body)
IHM Lineup Note:
Minnesota has enough balance to control play if Kaprizov’s line gets offensive-zone reps and Eriksson Ek’s group handles the hard minutes. Their blue-line mobility is strong enough to challenge Philadelphia’s pressure with quick exits.
Flyers - Projected lineup
Forwards
Alex Bump - Christian Dvorak - Travis Konecny
Carl Grundstrom - Trevor Zegras - Owen Tippett
Denver Barkey - Noah Cates - Matvei Michkov
Nikita Grebenkin - Sean Couturier - Garnet Hathaway
Defense
Travis Sanheim - Rasmus Ristolainen
Cam York - Jamie Drysdale
Nick Seeler - Noah Juulsen
Goalies
Dan Vladar
Samuel Ersson
Scratched
Emil Andrae
Luke Glendening
Injured
Tyson Foerster (arm)
Rodrigo Abols (lower body)
IHM Lineup Note:
Philadelphia can challenge Minnesota with straight-line speed and a disruptive forecheck, but the Flyers need to keep their defensive layers tighter in-zone. If they allow the Wild too much time around the slot, Minnesota’s skill can take over.
Dallas Stars vs Edmonton Oilers
Faceoff: 02:00 CET
Stars - Projected lineup
Forwards
Jason Robertson - Wyatt Johnston - Mavrik Bourque
Sam Steel - Matt Duchene - Jamie Benn
Michael Bunting - Justin Hryckowian - Adam Erne
Oskar Back - Arttu Hyry - Colin Blackwell
Defense
Esa Lindell - Miro Heiskanen
Thomas Harley - Nils Lundkvist
Tyler Myers - Lian Bichsel
Goalies
Jake Oettinger
Casey DeSmith
Scratched
Nathan Bastian
Kyle Capobianco
Ilya Lyubushkin
Alexander Petrovic
Injured
Radek Faksa (lower body)
Roope Hintz (lower body)
Mikko Rantanen (lower body)
Tyler Seguin (ACL)
IHM Lineup Note:
Dallas is built to handle high-end opponents because their structure does not collapse easily. Heiskanen remains the key to both exits and defensive calm, while Robertson and Johnston can punish loose gaps quickly.
Oilers - Projected lineup
Forwards
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins - Connor McDavid - Zach Hyman
Vasily Podkolzin - Leon Draisaitl - Jack Roslovic
Matt Savoie - Jason Dickinson - Kasperi Kapanen
Adam Henrique - Josh Samanski - Trent Frederic
Defense
Mattias Ekholm - Evan Bouchard
Jake Walman - Connor Murphy
Darnell Nurse - Spencer Stastney
Goalies
Tristan Jarry
Connor Ingram
Scratched
None
Injured
Colton Dach (undisclosed)
Ty Emberson (undisclosed)
Mattias Janmark (shoulder)
Curtis Lazar (undisclosed)
IHM Lineup Note:
Edmonton always threatens to turn the game into a speed contest, and against Dallas the margin for error becomes tiny. McDavid and Draisaitl can still win sequences on their own, but the Oilers need strong puck management from the defense to avoid feeding Dallas counter structure.
Winnipeg Jets vs New York Rangers
Faceoff: 02:00 CET
Jets - Projected lineup
Forwards
Kyle Connor - Mark Scheifele - Alex Iafallo
Cole Perfetti - Adam Lowry - Gabriel Vilardi
Gustav Nyquist - Jonathan Toews - Isak Rosén
Cole Koepke - Morgan Barron - Brad Lambert
Defense
Josh Morrissey - Dylan DeMelo
Dylan Samberg - Elias Salomonsson
Haydn Fleury - Jacob Bryson
Goalies
Connor Hellebuyck
Eric Comrie
Scratched
Ville Heinola
Injured
Nino Niederreiter (knee)
Neal Pionk (undisclosed)
Colin Miller (knee)
Vladislav Namestnikov (lower body)
IHM Lineup Note:
Winnipeg’s top line and Hellebuyck remain the central pillars of their identity. The Jets should be able to control long stretches if Morrissey and DeMelo handle exits cleanly and keep the Rangers from forcing chaotic transition play.
Rangers - Projected lineup
Forwards
Gabe Perreault - Mika Zibanejad - Alexis Lafreniere
Adam Edstrom - Vincent Trocheck - Will Cuylle
Tye Kartye - Noah Laba - Conor Sheary
Jonny Brodzinski - Juuso Parssinen - Jaroslav Chmelar
Defense
Vladislav Gavrikov - Adam Fox
Matthew Robertson - Braden Schneider
Urho Vaakanainen - Will Borgen
Goalies
Igor Shesterkin
Jonathan Quick
Scratched
Vincent Iorio
Taylor Raddysh
Brett Berard
Injured
Matt Rempe (upper body)
J.T. Miller (upper body)
IHM Lineup Note:
The Rangers need Fox to be the main pace setter from the back end because their forward group is thinner without Miller. If they can win the neutral-zone battle and avoid getting caught in low-zone shifts, they can stay in this structurally.
Utah Mammoth vs Chicago Blackhawks
Faceoff: 03:00 CET
Mammoth - Projected lineup
Forwards
Clayton Keller - Nick Schmaltz - Logan Crouse
JJ Peterka - Logan Cooley - Dylan Guenther
Jack McBain - Barrett Hayton - Michael Cardone
Alexander Kerfoot - Kevin Stenlund - Kailer Yamamoto
Defense
Mikhail Sergachev - MacKenzie Weegar
Nate Schmidt - John Marino
Ian Cole - Sean Durzi
Goalies
Karel Vejmelka
Vitek Vanecek
Scratched
Liam O’Brien
Brandon Tanev
Dmitri Simashev
Maksymilian Szuber
Nick DeSimone
Injured
None
IHM Lineup Note:
Utah’s speed and skill profile is strong enough to pressure Chicago from the opening shift. If Sergachev returns fully and joins Weegar on a stable pair, the Mammoth gain both transition quality and stronger game control from the back end.
Blackhawks - Projected lineup
Forwards
Ryan Greene - Connor Bedard - Andre Burakovsky
Ryan Donato - Frank Nazar - Teuvo Teravainen
Nick Lardis - Ilya Mikheyev - Tyler Bertuzzi
Landon Slaggert - Andrew Mangiapane - Sam Lafferty
Defense
Alex Vlasic - Louis Crevier
Wyatt Kaiser - Sam Rinzel
Matt Grzelcyk - Artyom Levshunov
Goalies
Arvid Soderblom
Spencer Knight
Scratched
Ethan Del Mastro
Injured
Oliver Moore (lower body)
IHM Lineup Note:
Chicago still leans on Bedard and the top-six skill to create offensive push, but they need much cleaner support on exits and better defensive-zone detail against a Utah team that can stretch coverage through speed and depth.
Vancouver Canucks vs Nashville Predators
Faceoff: 04:00 CET
Canucks - Projected lineup
Forwards
Evander Kane - Elias Pettersson - Drew O’Connor
Liam Ohgren - Marco Rossi - Brock Boeser
Max Sasson - Teddy Blueger - Linus Karlsson
Curtis Douglas - Aatu Raty - Jake DeBrusk
Defense
Elias Pettersson - Filip Hronek
Marcus Pettersson - Tom Willander
Zeev Buium - Victor Mancini
Goalies
Nikita Tolopilo
Kevin Lankinen
Scratched
Nils Hoglander
Injured
P.O Joseph (upper body)
Filip Chytil (facial fracture)
Thatcher Demko (hip surgery)
Derek Forbort (undisclosed)
IHM Lineup Note:
Vancouver needs its skill group to play fast and direct, because Nashville will try to grind this into a forecheck-heavy game. Pettersson and Hronek remain the most important breakout drivers if the Canucks want to control transition.
Predators - Projected lineup
Forwards
Steven Stamkos - Ryan O’Reilly - Jonathan Marchessault
Filip Forsberg - Matthew Wood - Luke Evangelista
Zachary L’Heureux - Erik Haula - Ozzy Wiesblatt
Tyson Jost - Fedor Svechkov - Reid Schaefer
Defense
Brady Skjei - Roman Josi
Nicolas Hague - Justin Barron
Nick Perbix - Ryan Ufko
Goalies
Juuse Saros
Justus Annunen
Scratched
Joakim Kemell
Injured
Adam Wilsby (lower body)
IHM Lineup Note:
Nashville’s top-end skill still gives them the ability to create dangerous sequences, especially when Josi gets involved in transition. They should try to pressure Vancouver’s thinner defensive support and create more chaos below the dots.
Vegas Golden Knights vs Pittsburgh Penguins
Faceoff: 04:00 CET
Golden Knights - Projected lineup
Forwards
Ivan Barbashev - Jack Eichel - Mark Stone
Pavel Dorofeyev - Tomas Hertl - Mitch Marner
Brett Howden - Colton Sissons - Braeden Bowman
Cole Smith - Nic Dowd - Keegan Kolesar
Defense
Brayden McNabb - Shea Theodore
Noah Hanifin - Rasmus Andersson
Jeremy Lauzon - Kaedan Korczak
Goalies
Adin Hill
Akira Schmid
Scratched
Ben Hutton
Brandon Saad
Reilly Smith
Injured
Carter Hart (lower body)
William Karlsson (lower body)
Jonas Rondbjerg (lower body)
IHM Lineup Note:
If Stone returns, Vegas gets a huge bump in puck-protection, finishing support and overall offensive detail. Eichel and Marner already give the Knights elite transport and playmaking, so the lineup becomes much harder to contain with Stone added back in.
Penguins - Projected lineup
Forwards
Egor Chinakhov - Rickard Rakell - Bryan Rust
Anthony Mantha - Tommy Novak - Ville Koivunen
Elmer Soderblom - Ben Kindel - Avery Hayes
Connor Dewar - Blake Lizotte - Noel Acciari
Defense
Parker Wotherspoon - Erik Karlsson
Connor Clifton - Ilya Solovyov
Ryan Shea - Kris Letang
Goalies
Arturs Silovs
Stuart Skinner
Scratched
Ryan Graves
Kevin Hayes
Injured
Sidney Crosby (lower body)
Jack St. Ivany (hand surgery)
Caleb Jones (lower body)
Samuel Girard (upper body)
Justin Brazeau (upper body)
IHM Lineup Note:
Pittsburgh is still operating without several major structure pieces, which means Karlsson and Letang must do too much of the puck-driving work. Against Vegas, that becomes dangerous if the Penguins lose defensive posture and start trading rushes without center support.
Seattle Kraken vs Colorado Avalanche
Faceoff: 04:00 CET
Kraken - Projected lineup
Forwards
Jared McCann - Matty Beniers - Jordan Eberle
Frederick Gaudreau - Chandler Stephenson - Eeli Tolvanen
Berkly Catton - Shane Wright - Kappo Kaako
Ryan Winterton - Ben Meyers - Jacob Melanson
Defense
Vince Dunn - Adam Larsson
Jamie Oleksiak - Brandon Montour
Ryker Evans - Ryan Lindgren
Goalies
Philipp Grubauer
Joey Daccord
Scratched
Josh Mahura
Cale Fleury
Matt Murray
Bobby McMann
Injured
Jaden Schwartz (upper body)
IHM Lineup Note:
Seattle has enough structure to stay competitive if Dunn and Montour move the puck quickly and the forwards support properly underneath. Against Colorado, though, every failed exit can quickly become extended pressure against.
Avalanche - Projected lineup
Forwards
Nazem Kadri - Nathan MacKinnon - Martin Necas
Ross Colton - Brock Nelson - Valeri Nichushkin
Parker Kelly - Nicolas Roy - Gavin Brindley
Zakhar Bardakov - Jack Drury - Joel Kiviranta
Defense
Devon Toews - Cale Makar
Josh Manson - Brent Burns
Brett Kulak - Sam Malinski
Goalies
Mackenzie Blackwood
Scott Wedgewood
Scratched
Nick Blankenburg
Injured
Gabriel Landeskog (lower body)
Artturi Lehkonen (upper body)
Logan O’Connor (hip surgery)
IHM Lineup Note:
Colorado’s formula remains simple and dangerous: speed through MacKinnon, support through Makar, and enough depth to keep the pressure alive after the first wave. If the Avalanche own transition, Seattle will have trouble containing the pace.
Q&A: Projected Lineups, Tactical Signals and Match Pressure
Q1: What is the difference between a projected lineup and the final lineup card?
A projected lineup is the best available estimate based on practices, media reports, travel notes and coach comments. The final lineup card can still change because of warmup decisions, illness, visa delays, maintenance issues or last-minute scratches.
Q2: Why is lineup order important when reading hockey analysis?
Line order tells you more than just talent hierarchy. It shows who is expected to handle top matchups, who may get offensive-zone starts, and which players are trusted in defensive situations or special teams rotation.
Q3: What is the first thing serious readers should look at in a lineup post?
Start with the top two centers, the first two defense pairs and the expected starting goalie. Those three areas usually reveal the tactical identity of the matchup more clearly than any other section.
Q4: Why can one scratched defenseman change an entire game plan?
Because a single blue-line change affects puck retrievals, breakout speed, gap control, penalty killing and offensive blue-line stability. The effect often spreads far beyond the player being replaced.
Q5: How should readers interpret a maintenance day in a status report?
A maintenance day usually suggests workload management rather than a full injury absence, but it still matters. It can signal reduced minutes, uncertain usage or a real chance of a late caution call before faceoff.
Q6: What does IHM Tactical Signals add that raw line combinations do not?
IHM Tactical Signals translates personnel into game logic. It tells you who may control pace, who brings the stronger forecheck, where the blue-line edge sits, which goalie gives the best stability and what hidden factor could swing the matchup.
Q7: What does IHM Match Pressure Index do?
It condenses the matchup into five direct reads: offensive pressure, transition edge, defensive stability, goaltending edge and game control projection. It gives a fast tactical summary for readers who want the most important game-flow clues immediately.
Q8: Why does center depth matter so much in projected lineups?
Centers drive faceoffs, low-zone support, matchup defense and transition structure. When a team loses top centers, its entire shape often becomes less stable in all three zones.
Q9: Why do some teams dress 11 forwards and 7 defensemen?
That setup is usually used to protect an injured roster, give a coach more blue-line options or shelter certain matchups. It can help tactically, but it also puts more pressure on bench management and shift timing.
Q10: What lineup clue usually points to a lower-event game?
Heavier bottom-six usage, more conservative third-pair deployment and a strong shutdown center profile usually indicate a game expected to be tighter, slower and more territorial rather than rush-heavy.
Q11: Why is home ice important in lineup analysis?
Because the home coach gets last change and can better target matchups. That allows stronger control over which line sees the opponent’s best players and which defense pair gets exposed or protected.
Q12: Can projected lineups still change after this post is published?
Yes. Treat projected lineups as the latest reliable snapshot, not the final card. Always recheck closer to puck drop for confirmed goalies, illness updates and late scratches.